Transplanting machine



Sept. 8, 1953 w. s. McGowAN TRANSPLANTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 22. 194B 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTQRNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT vvolrrlcr. y i Y Hf2,651,405'fff44 i e TRANSPLANTING William S. McGowan, Torreon', Mexico f Application September 22, 1948, Y Serial No. 50,455

1 claim. (ci. lss-179) 'This invention is directed to a transplanting machine of that type which includes an endless driven chain disposed in a vertical plane length- Wise of the machine, and a plurality of plant holding units mounted on the chain and adapted to be loaded by an operator when such units are disposed in one position on the chain, and to discharge the plants to the ground when the units are in another position on the chain.

The major object of the invention is to mount the chain on the machine so that such chain includes a lower rearwardly traveling portion following said lower portion; to pivotally mount the units on the chain so that said units lie dat against the inclined portion of the chain for convenient loading and will hang down from the lower portion ofthe chainfor discharge of the plants to the ground, and to provide a means between the units and the chain mounting means so that the units will be automatically restored to a at position when they reach the upwardly sloping portion of the chain. y,

A further object of the invention is to provide a transplanting machine which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by-means of such structure and relative arrangement lof parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the follow-l ing specification and claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine as in use. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section on linefS--II o fFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one ofthe plant holding units, detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on theA drawings, the transplanting machine comprises a longitudinal main frame I disposed above the ground for movement therealong; such main frame I being supported at its rear end by transversely spaced wheels 2. At its forward end the frame IV is adapted to be connected in supporting and draft relation to a tractor by means of a hitch (not shown).

Intermediate its ends the longitudinal main frame I includes a generally triangular, vupstanding supporting frame 3, and rearwardly of said frame 3 the main frame I is fitted with an operators seat 4. An endless chain 5 is supported from the frame 3, as follows:

At 4the top of the frame 3 there isa large sprocket 6 on a cross shaft 1; ythe chain'5 running 'over vthe top of the sprocket and thendepending vertically and turning rearwardly about a small sprocket Bxed in connection 'with the mainframe' I. From the sprocket 8 the chain" 5 rnsstraight' or horizontally in 'a rearward direction toand about, from below, anothervv small sprocket Q likewise xed in connection with the mainframe I. After leaving the small sprocket 9, the chain 5 runs at an upward and rearward incline,'and thence passes about the rear of a relatively large-diameter, flat facedpulley I0 on a cross shaftV I I journaled in connection with the frame '3. Adjacent, but short of, the`top of the pulley III the chain leads off the sametangentially and at a forward and upward incline; being supported, for the main portion of its length, b ,etw'eenpulley'l II) and sprocket 6 by a longitudinal platform I2 included in said frame.

Therchain 5'is'tted, on the outside and at equally spaced longitudinal points, with a pluralityof plant holding units, each of which is indicated generally at I3, and hereinafter described in detain The. plantholding units I3 are each led, on the chain 5, by an outwardly opening, longitudinal cradle I4 affixed to said chain. Y,

The loading station for the plant holding units I3- is at thatportion of the chain which runs on the longitudinal platform I2;,i. e. directly ahead, and within manual reach, of the operator on the seat 4.

The chain5,A plant holding units` I3, andlead- Vi.rlg=cradles,L I4 enter, as they turn about the sprocket 8, a hollow, furrow forming .shoe I5 i'lXed rin. connection` with, andl depending-from, the mainframeY I.; such= shoe being open at the lrearf. and including transversely spaced sides- I6 ,intermediate Nwhich thev straight portion of 4the chainbetweensprockets 8 and 9 runs. The hollow,'. furrow forming shoe- I5 is Vled by a ripper tooth Ilxed'by a standard I8 to the mainframe gI. Directly rearwardly of the shoe I5 themachine includes, on opposite sidesfof-v the main vfra-me 1I, -apair of*transverselyspaced;v furrow closing wheels I 9 mounted onvertically swingable, 'L-s'haped draft arms 20 which are yieldably spring-pressed in a downward direction by corresponding spring` units 2| Between the furrow closing wheels I9 and the wheels 2, the machine includes, in ground 'en- Vgagement and on opposite sides of the furrow line,A a pair of rearwardly converging scraper blades 22 xed in connection Jwith -pivotally mounted draft arms 23 which are yieldably spring-pressed downwardly by spring units 24.

The furrow closing wheels I9A preferably Iare canted inwardly at the bottom, whereas the wheels 2 not only cant in at the bottom, but converge rearwardly slightly; such latter wheels being the final furrow closing and presser wheels of the machine.

The endless chain is driven, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, by means of an endless chain and sprocket unit 25 connected between the cross shaft 1 and a countershaft '28 on the main frame I adjacent its forward end. The

countershaft 26 is driven by an endless chain and y sprocket unit 21 which derives its movement from the power take-off shaft or the like (not shown) of the tractor. Y Each of the plant holding units I3 comprises the following structural arrangement:

The numeral 2B indicates a iiat longitudinal n base plate formed, at its trailing end1 with trans- .versely spaced, projecting attachment ears 29 which are adapted to pivotally connect to an attachment link 33 of the chain 5, with said plate 28 initially (i. e. at the loading station) extending forwardly from said ears. At its rear or trailing end 29 the plate 28 includes a pair of transversely spaced control fingers 3l which project rearwardly in rigid relation on opposite sides. From a point adjacent but ahead of the ears 23, and resting on the outer face of the plate 23, the latter is provided with a spring steel grip 32 of elongated', generally U-shape; such grip being formed of a relatively thin spring steel strap disposed edgewise, as shown, and anchored,.as at 33, to the plate 28.

The spring steel grip 32 is quite flexible, and includes forwardly projecting jaws 34 normally spaced apart in parallel relationship, and projecting slightly beyond the forward end of the plate 28. Separation of the jaws 34 of grip 32 beyond parallelism is prevented by a pair of outwardly projecting, transversely spaced pins 35 on the plate '28, which pins lie outside the grip 32 intermediate its ends. 'Ihe pins 35 are connected, at their outer ends, by a cross strap 35a, which assures that the jaws 34 cannot be accidentally deflected away from the plate 28.

The jaws 34 are faced, on adjacent sides, with a resilient pad 36, such as a strip of rubber, which strip is continuous and includes an end loop 31 some distance rearwardly of the free ends of the jaws 3.4. l Grip actuating levers 38 are pivoted to the pins 35 and extend rearwardly exteriorly of, and along, the corresponding sides of the grip 32 for a certain distance, and thence said levers include rearwardly and outwardly diverging legs 33.

The jaws 34 are in their parallel open position when the legs 39 are free, as in Fig. 3. However. upon mechanical swinging of the legs 39 inwardly, i. e. toward each other in the manner hereinafter described, the jaws 34 are caused to close in the manner shown in Fig. 2; the jaws when closed engaging only at their tip portions, by reason Vof the fact that said jaws are then converging lengthwise of the direction of travel. 'Ihs convergence is brought about by virtue of the fact that the grip actuating levers 38 when swung inwardly by the legs 38 ride the sides of the grip 32 intermediate its ends.

Outturned stops 40 on the plate 28 prevent the grip actuating levers 38 from separating, or swinging laterally outward beyond a predetermined point.

At its forward end the base plate 29 includes an outturned, plant supporting lip 4I; the jaws being notched, vas at 42, to clear such lip.

When the planting machine is in operation, each plant holding unit I3 is in a free or released position when it runs with the chain 5 up the longitudinal platform I2. At this time the operator, from the seat 4, places a plant between the jaws 34 of each unit I3, with the stem resting on the'lip 4| and with the roots seated in the corresponding and leading cradleI4.

AS the loading station, i. e. the longitudinal platform I2, is of substantial length, an operator is not pressed for time when depositing plants in the holding units I3; the arrangement of the units I3 and cradles I4 being such that the operator does not have to hold onto the plant until the plant holding unit closes in plant gripping relation. Further, the length of platform I2 permits, if necessary, more than one man to work at the loading station,

As each unit I3 approaches the sprocket 6 and runs off the platform I2, such unit passes into a channel 43 symmetrical to and enclosing the chain from the upper end of said platform I2 to a point closely adjacent the small sprocket 8. When each unit I3 is in the channel 43, the sides of such channel are in engagement with the legs 39, swinging the same laterally inwardly whereby to cause the actuating levers 38 to compress the grip 32 intermediate its ends. with rcsultant closing of the jaws 34 on the supported plant. Thus, as each unit I3 traverses the sprocket 5 and travels downwardly to the shoe I5. the unit is closed or irl. plant gripping relation, preventing the plant from falling or es caping. For proper operation, the outer and trailing ends of the legs 39, when riding in channel 43, should be substantially transversely alined with the corresponding attachment ears 23. lurtlficn the legs 39 and the control ngers 3l,l riding in the channel 43 on the downward course between sprockets 6 and 8. tend to hold the units perpendicular in said channel, as desired.

The sides I5 of the hollow, furrow-forming shoe I5 are in effect continuations of the sides of the channel 43, so that as each plant holding unit I3 passes about the sprocket 8 and travels with the straight portion of the chain 5 between said sprocket 8 and the sprocket 3, said sides I6 continue to hold the unit I3 closed. Each unit, as it reaches the sprocket 8, and traverses between the latter and the sprocket 9, is in av dependent vertical position, as in Fig. l. As vthe machine advances, the ripper tooth II loosens the ground and, immediately following, the hollow shoe i5 forms a furrow into which cachplant holding unit I3 depends between the. sprockets 8 and 9.

As the plant holding units I3 are perpendicuf lar when they enter the shoe I5, such shoe is much shorter than otherwise would be necessary to permit the units I3 to move, as an arc, into the shoe.

As each plant holding unit I3 reaches the rear ends of the sides I6 of shoe I5, the divergent legs 39 spring clear of such sides, whereupon the jaws 34 spring open, dropping the plant into the furrow rearwardly of the working portion of the shoe I5.

The wheels I9 impose an initial earth packing action about the roots of each plant in the furrow, which is followed by earth being scraped into the furrow by theblades 22. Finally, the

wheels 2 impose the rlnal packing action on the then lled furrow to assure of rm setting of each plant.

After each plant holding unit I3 has dropped its plant into the furrow, such holder moves toward the pulley I0, remaining in a generally dependent position. However, as soon as the unit I3 arrives at the pulley i0, the rearwardly projecting control lingers 3I are brought to bear against the flat face of said pulley I9, immediately swinging the corresponding` unit I3 to a position of tangency, as at 44. This position of tangency continues until the unit I3 runs oiT the pulley I0 adjacent its top, at which time gravity holds the unit lengthwise in engagement with the chain 5 for its next passage up the platform I2.

The cradles I4 are of a width so that they have no obstruction as they travel with the chains, passing freely Within the channel 43 and between the sides I 6 of the shoe I5.

As the furrow closing wheels I9 and scraper blade 22 are spring-pressed they follow ground contour at all times, so that their action is always effective.

The described transplanting machine is a practical and reliable apparatus for the planting of row crops with the plants spaced apart equally and a predetermined distance.

While especially for the planting of guayule, obviously the machine may be used for other types of crops, such as tomatoes, etc.

The particular design of each plant holding unit I3 is of advantage for the reason that the plants as gripped between the jaws 34 are not damaged. This is by virtue of the fact that the grip 32 is elongated, with relatively flexible jaws 34; the closing action being imparted not directly to said jaws 34, but at a point intermediate the ends of the grip. The resilient pad 36 also assures against stern or foliage compression to the point of damage.

The pad 3B, and end loop 31, soften the gripping action of the jaws, and additionally each loop 31 forms a plant locator and stop.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not form a departure 6 from the spirit of the invention, as dened by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the fol-r lowing is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

In a transplanting machine, a frame, a movable endless chain mounted on said frame and disposed in a longitudinal vertical plane, said chain having a lower portion normally traveling rearwardly and an inclined portion normally traveling upwardly and forwardly, a pulley with a periphery of greater Width than said chain about which the chain turns at the juncture of said portions, a plurality of holding units pivotally mounted on said chain and movable therewith, each unit being pivoted at its normally trailing end to said chain for swinging movement in said vertical plane about a transverse pivotal axis, and a finger rigid with each unit and disposed to one side of said chain in position to engage the periphery of said pulley as the chain turns about the pulley and moves the unit thereabout, whereby in normal operation each unit depends from said lower portion of the chain as the unit approaches the pulley andV engagement of the finger With the periphery of the pulley causes said unit to swing about its pivotal axis and lie tangent to the pulley and be held in such position until clear of the pulley when the unit falls forward by gravity lengthwise onto said inclined portion of the chain.

WILLIAM S. McGOWAN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Y Date 180,253 McFadden July 25, 1876 277,212 Brimer May 8, 1883 515,159 Ormiston Feb. 20, 1894 541,458 Schroeder June 25, 1895 1,139,292 Jirotka May 11, 1915 1,765,467 Vollink June 24, 1930 1,765,468 Vollink June 24, 1930 1,765,469 Vollink June 24, 1930 1,963,591 Pomieraniec June 19, 1934 2,003,390 Poll et al. June 4, 1935 2,026,251 Rowton Dec. 31, 1935 2,237,197 Pomieraniec Apr. 1, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,369 Denmark Mar. 14, 1932 

